Happily Ever After

This post will be like the closing ceremony at Disney with fireworks all over the place.  Not because it's so powerful but because I have so much on my heart.  

If you could see me right now, my fist is in the air because I did it....I made it it through (successfully) the last two weeks of school, hosting my family from California in tight quarters, balancing blended family, entertaining (which required decorating), and finally ending with celebrating Morgan's graduation.  And it was good.  I sit here now and smile.  This is one moment of many others that I can describe as a "happily ever after" moment.  Many don't believe in happily ever after.  It's fantasy, not real.  BUT as for me and my house...we do!  We believe it here on earth and in eternity with our heavenly father.  We believe God's word to be true and that "He came to give us life and life abundantly".

We choose to make "happily ever after" moments that make us smile.  Many don't get our family and our Disney moments.  (We often tell our girls not to share because of that reason but sometimes they just can't hold back their happy.)  Our "happily ever after" moments are the special moments that bring out God's love and are engraved in us forever.  

One of those for us is our vacation time.  From the start of our family, we have made family vacation a must.  Every family is different but for us, we chose to live conservativly throughout the year in order to get away in the summer.  The  vacations have evolved over 18 years but have certain elements that are the same.  Each one will have at least one if not all of the pieces: good food, a beach (or some water), disney signature, laughing, pictures, travel time (in the sky or on the road) and great memories!  As a matter of fact, some of the greatest memories have been on our vacation.  That is why we love Disney, but the world sucks the fun out of our "happily ever after" moments.  They say Disney supports things we don't...that they have an agenda.  People...we don't put our faith in a mouse!  Our faith is in Jesus Christ.  We just enjoy a clean, family environment where people are encouraged to smile and laugh.  We enjoy time on the beach to admire God's creation.  We have memorable conversation over great food and entertainment.  

Listen, life is full of evil.  We are surrounded by negative people.  We live in a world that if you smile at someone it makes them uncomfortable and you have an agenda if you want to do something kind for someone.  But here's the deal....it's your choice how your moments end.  They can end hopeless or "happily ever after".  

As for me and my family, we live in a world of sin and hurt but we choose to make our moments here count "happily ever after".  

As for eternity, we believe in Jesus Christ.  We have made Him Lord of our lives.  We have asked for His forgiveness.  We grow daily in His word and accept His grace.  Therefore, we really live "Happily Ever After".


p.s. don't suck the fun out of someone's "happily ever after".  Everyone's doesn't look the same.

The Mrs. Pastor